JOHN Hartson admits it will be difficult to break up the strike partnership of Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson - but he insists he can still score 20 goals for Celtic this season....

JOHN Hartson admits it will be difficult to break up the strike partnership of Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson - but he insists he can still score 20 goals for Celtic this season.

It took 11 games for the big Welsh striker to finally open his goalscoring account for the Parkhead side, and he is the first to confess that he was starting to feel the pressure.

But Hartson - who almost signed for rivals Rangers shortly before arriving at Celtic - finally got off the mark in style when he grabbed a hat-trick against Dundee United last week.

Now he believes he can still meet his target of netting 20 goals in his first season at Parkhead.

He said: "The longer it was going on without me scoring meant I was getting a bit tense.

"But I believe I have been playing quite well without getting goals, and as a striker that is obviously what you are judged on.

"It felt great, though, to get my first goal - and it was brilliant to open my account with a hat-trick.

"I said I hoped to get 20 goals this season and I'm well on course for it. If I can do that Henrik can obviously bang them in and the way Chris is playing I hope we can build on that, and the club will benefit."

A bout of tonsillitis meant Sutton was ruled out for the game against the Tannadice side, and Hartson was given his chance to impress.

Despite bagging three goals, he was back on the bench for Celtic's Champions League game against Rosenborg as manager Martin O'Neill reverted back to his tried and trusted strike duo.

But Hartson - who cost O'Neill #6million - believes the Hoops boss would not have paid such a fee if he was unwilling to give the Welshman a chance in the side.

He told the Celtic View: "I want to give the manager a headache, but if I'm scoring I'm sure it's a problem he wouldn't mind having with all his strikers playing well.

"I've always said I needed a run in the team. But I have to get used to this kind of rotation system because I've never experienced it before.

"I've tried to stay positive, and although I scored a goal for my country the other week you still have to do it for your team.

"This is such a great club, and I want to score lots of goals here.

"I knew when I came up here that Henrik and Chris had scored 66 goals between them last season, so I knew it would take a little time for me to disrupt the partnership. They work well together.

"However, I have a lot of confidence in my ability - and the fact that the manager has paid a lot of money for me means I've got to make sure when I get into the team I give him a selection headache.

"I'm happy for Chris and Henrik to do well because it is healthy to have competition at any club and I'm also sure when I'm in and scoring goals they are happy for me.

"There's a bond between players, and we know if you're not playing you're desperate to seize your chance and get involved."

Meanwhile, Celtic's plc board chairman Brian Quinn insists O'Neill will be given the go-ahead to sign a defender following the Bhoys' back-to-back defeats against Porto and Rosenborg in the Champions League - but he warns there will be no "splurge" on players.

He told the Daily Record: "To use an old-fashioned expression, we took a 'doing' in Portugal - and the Champions League results have shown Celtic that there's a gulf between us and the highest level on the continent.

"The manager will get the defender that he has spoken to me about signing, but there can be no dramatic splurge on the transfer market."